Envelope folding machine

ABSTRACT

The disclosure herein describes an attachment to be added to a machine which normally forms open-side envelopes and thereby converts it to one capable of forming open-end envelopes. The attachment consists of a gum applicating assembly adapted to be removably supported on a frame which is secured over the machine just prior to the scoring section thereof; this gum applicating assembly consists of a series of rollers cooperating to transfer gum, collected from a gum recipient, to the scoring roller of the machine where it is applied on an envelope blank being conveyed below the scoring roller. The envelope blank is subsequently folded in the folding section of the machine in the usual manner to form an open-end envelope.

United States Patent Falasconi et al. 1 Jan. 23, 1973 s41 ENVELOPEFOLDING MACHINE 1,196,912 9/1916 Weck ..93/1 0 [75] Inventors: Ro andoalasc te Cla re, 1,935,522 11/1933 Prior ..93/1 G Quebec; Frank DalyPrimary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz Beaconsfield Quebec R'chard AssistantExaminerJames F. Coan Laval Quebec of Canada Attorney-Cushman, Darby &Cushman [73] Assignee: Montreal Envelope lnc., Montreal,

Quebec, Canada ABSTRACT 22 Filed; No 5 1970 The disclosure hereindescribes an attachment to be added to a machine which normally formsopen-side [21] P N05 87,106 envelopes and thereby converts it to onecapable of forming open-end envelopes. The attachment consists 52 11.5.C1. ..93/61 R, 93/61 A, 93/62, Of 8 applicating assembly adapted be93/73 1 18/219 removably supported on a frame which is secured over [51]Int Cl 5 21/00 the machine just prior to the scoring section thereof;[58] Field ST 6l 63 this gum applicating assembly consists of a seriesof 93/73" 8/519 rollers cooperating to transfer gum, collected from agum recipient, to the scoring roller of the machine where it is appliedon an envelope blank being con- [56] References Cited veyed below thescoring roller. The envelope blank is UNITED STATES PATENTS subsequentlyfolded in the folding section of the machine in the usual manner to forman open-end en- Annan M e]ope 410,154 9/1889 Dean ..1l8/219X 823,8506/1906 Davidson ..93/58 ST 3 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PATENIEDJM 231915 SHEET 1 OF 3 gm amt MEI vww 3m QQI mwt INVENTORS Rolando FALASCON/Richard PURDY fmnk 7 DA LY olalqlf o AGENTS PATENTEUJAHZB 191s 3.712.185

SHEET 2 or 3 L INVENTORS a My yg l Rplando FALASCON/ I 9,: M6 4 RichardPURDY I I l 77 77 Fmnkm DALY 60 M am AGENTS PATENTEUJAH23 I975 3.712.185

SHEET 3 0F 3 INVENTORS Rolando FALASCON/ Richard PURDY Frank DA LY BYAGE NTS ENVELOPE FOLDINGMACHINE This invention relates to an attachmentfor use on an envelope folding machine; more particularly, thisinvention relates to an attachment for mounting on an envelope foldingmachine in order to convert this machine from one forming open-sidedenvelopes to one forming open-end envelopes.

Presently, in a plant for making envelopes, there are machines formaking, for example, rectangularly shaped envelopes which have one openflap with a dried sealant set along one longitudinal side thereof andthere are other machines for making similarly shaped envelopes whichhave one open flap with a dried sealant set along one lateral sidethereof. Either one of these machines is very expensive since eachmachine must perform a series of successive operations, such asprinting, gumming, scoring and folding; in some cases, an aperture isperforated through the envelope blank and a plastic window is glued overthe aperture. However, no single machine exists which will perform allof the above operations and make an openside envelope as well asanopen-end envelope.

It is an object of this invention to provide on a machine for normallyforming open-side envelopes an attachment which enables the same machineto form open-end envelopes.

A further important object of this invention is to provide on a machinewhich normally forms open-side envelopes a removably mounted attachmentwhich may be pivotally set in one position whereby the machine will formopen-end envelopes and which may be retracted in an inoperating positionso that the machine may revert to its original function, that is to formopenside envelopes.

It is therefore another object of this invention to provide anattachment on a machine of the type described which is simple andefficient and which is of great economy and easy to operate.

The present invention relates to an attachment for mounting on a machineof the type described which comprises, in its broadest aspect, asupporting frame extending over an envelope conveying section of themachine; gum application means removably mounted relative to the scoringsection of the machine; these means include a gum recipient, a firstroller partially submerged in the gum recipient, a second rolleradjacent the first roller and intermeshed therewith, a third rolleradjacent the second roller and operatively connected therewith to rotatein the same rotational direction; the third roller is placed injuxtaposition with the scoring roller of the machine so that gumcollected from the gum recipient is transferred via the first, secondand third rollers to the scoring roller along the side edge of theenvelope blank during the scoring operation thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a rubber band iscircumferentially disposed on the scoring roller of the machine; there,it receives the gum applied from the third roller and is rotated withthe scoring roller to apply the gum to the envelope blank conveyedunderneath the scoring roller.

The following is a description by way of example of one embodiment ofthe present invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a machine for formingopen-side envelopes equipped with the attachment of the presentinvention in a nonoperating position;

FIGS. 2 to 9 depict the series of transformations brought to anopen-side envelope when formed by the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 10 to 15 depict the series of transformations brought to anopen-end envelope when formed by the machine shown in FIG. I, but withthe attachment lowered in an operating position;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the attachment in operatingposition (full lines) and in non-operating position (phantom lines);

FIG. 17 is a front elevation view of the lever assembly in a raisedposition as seen along lines 17l7 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a partial front elevational view similar to that of FIG. 17with the handle in a lowered position;

FIG. 19 is a partial top plan view of the attachment;

FIG. 20 is a side cross-sectional view taken along lines 20-20 of FIG.19; and

FIG. 21 is a front elevational view of the two scoring rollers of themachine.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a machine for forming open-sideenvelopes, one form of which is shown in FIGS. 2 to 9: an example ofsuch a machine is one known in the envelope art as THE WINKLER &DUUNEBIER 127 GS MARK IV ENVELOPE MACHINE. All of the different sectionsof this machine illustrated in FIG. 1 are not essential to theunderstanding of the operation of the attachment in accordance with thepresent invention; hence, only a brief description of the differentsteps through which an envelope blank is processed will be given. Aplurality of envelope blanks 30 are stacked at the feeding section A(see FIG. 2) from where each blank is successively processed to aprinting section B, a window cutting section C (see FIG. 3), a windowpatching section D (See FIGS. 4 and 5), a seal flap gumming section (seeFIG. 6), a drying section F, an aligner and conveying section G, ascoring section H, a gumming and folding section J (see FIGS. 7 and 8),and a delivery section K (see FIG. 9).

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention relates to an attachment 32which is adapted to be pivotally mounted on the machine between thealigner and conveying section G and the scoring section H and which,when lowered into an operating position, enables the same machine toform an envelope having an open end such as the one exemplified in FIGS.10 to 15; these figures illustrate an envelope 34 at different stages ofbeing formed into an open-end envelope (the reference lettersaccompanying the reference numerals 30 and 34 in FIGS. 2-I5 designatethe corresponding stage in the process of forming an envelope by themachine of FIG. 1). The function of attachment 32 is to lay a strip ofgum 36 along one longitudinal side 38 of the envelope blank, as shown inFIG. 12. This strip of gum 36 is laid while the envelope is being scoredand will permit side 38 to stick on side 40 after the envelope blankwill have processed through the folding section.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 19 more particularly, the attachment 32consists of an inverted U-shaped frame 42 having an horizontalcross-member 44 with its opposite ends fixed to two vertical uprights46and 48 bolted respectively at 50 and 52 to the side frames 54 and 56 ofthe machine. The frame 42 supports a gum applicator assembly 58 whichconsists mainly of a gum recipient 60, a first roller 62 havingits lowerportion submerged in the gum recipient, a second roller 64 juxtaposed toroller 62 and a third roller 66 juxtaposed to roller 64. The gumapplicator assembly 58 is pivotable on the supporting frame 42 throughmeans of a lever assembly 68 with consists of a pair of lever arms 76and 78 having their respective fulcrum points 80 and 82 (see FIG. 17rotatably mounted in cross-member 44 of the supporting frame 52. Eachlever arm 76, 78 has a motion transmitting end portion 69, 70 connectedby means of pins 71, 72 to a pair of blocks 73, 74 disposed on each sideof the gum recipient 60 and intercon-,

nected by means of a back plate 75 parallel to and spaced from member44. These blocks are integral portions of two side arms 77, 79 extendingalong each side of the gum recipient 60 and providing support for theopposite upper side edges 61 and 63 of the gum recipient. Pivotalmovement of lever arm 78 is effected by a cross-arm 84 having itsopposite ends pivotally connected to arms 76 and 78. A handle extension86 on lever arm 76 enables the pivotal movement of the lever assemblyabout fulcrum points 80 and 82 and, consequently, the whole gumapplicator assembly 58 may be rotated down into a lowered position, asillustrated in FIG. 18.

Rollers 62, 64 and 66 are mounted on their respective rotating shafts88, 90 and 92 which have their opposite ends rotatably mounted in theside arms 77 and 79. Intermeshing gears 98 and 99 are respectively fixedon shafts 88 and 90 while sprockets 100 and 102, operatively connectedby chain 103, are respectively mounted on shafts 90 and 92. Shaft 88further carries a second gear 104 which is meshed with gear 105 on ashaft 106 supported on the side frame 54 by suitable means 107 androtated by means of a chain and sprocket arrangement 108.driven by asuitable power source (not shown) which may be the same power used fornormally operating the machine.

Referring to FIG. 20, the gum collected by roller 62 in the gum bath ofthe recipient 60 is carried by rollers 64 and 66 and deposited on thescoring roller 110 of the machine so that it may be applied on theenvelope blank 34 passing therebeneath. However, in order that the gumcollected on the scorer 110 be properly transmitted and applied to theenvelope, a rubber band 114 is, preferably, fixed circumferentially onthe scorer to receive the gum from roller 66. lt is evident that thepositioning of the rubber band on the scorer 110 will be determined bythe size of the envelope to be gummed; therefore, roller 66 is madelongitudinally slidable on its shaft 92 to always be in alignment withthe rubber band. Referring toFlGS. 20 and 21, a second roller 116 isprovided on such a machine as referred to above and is disposedunderneath the scorer 110 to complete the scoring operation and toassist in the conveying ofthe envelope 34 to the'following gumming andfolding section. However, a circumferential recess 1 18 is now requiredon roller 116 in order that the gum which is on the rubber band 114remains on the rubberband and not transmitted on roller 116 when thereis no envelope passing between the rollers] and 116. Roller 116 is gumon roller 62. A small spacing between rollers 64 and 66 enables anadequate transmission of gum between these two rollers; this spacing,however may be adjusted by means which are well-known in the art suchas, for instance,,screw 126 to adjust shaft 92. Similar adjusting screws123, 125, 127 are provided on the gum application assembly to adjust therelative position of rollers 62, 64 and 66. It is further essential thatthe rotational direction of roller 66 be identical to that of roller 64;consequently, the chain 103 synchronizes the rotation of shafts and 92.Otherwise, e.g., if shafts 90 and 92 were to be rotated in op: positedirections, a roller 66 with a considerably large diameter would berequired whereby the gum would dry on roller 66 before reaching thescoring roller and gum splashing would occur if the diameter of roller66 remain unaltered.

When the attachment is set in its inoperating position, it is set asillustrated in full lines in FIG. 16; thus, the machine performs itsusual function (that is, forming open-side envelopes) since roller 66 isseparated from scorer 110 and gear 104 is separated from gear 105. Whenthe attachment is set in its operating position, it is set asillustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 16.

The lowering of the attachment 32 is effected by the operator pivotinghandle 86 (see FIG. 17) about point 80. The whole lever assembly is thuspivoted about pins 80 and 82 transmitting a similar displacement to thegum application assembly 58. When the gum application assembly arrivesin its lowermost position, meshing engagement is effected between gear104 and gear 105. At the same time, roller 66 is brought adjacent therubber band 114 on the scorer 110; the transmittal of rotation to roller66 is effected from the power source via gear 104, gear 98, gear 99,sprocket 100, chain 103 and sprocket 102. With the gum applicationassembly in operation, gum is transferred from the recipient onto thescoring roller 110 via roller 62, roller 64, roller 66 and rubberband 114.

Referring to FIGS. l2l5,while the strip of gum 36 is being applied alongthe edge 38 of the envelope blank 34, the latter is simultaneouslyscored by the scoring roller as indicated by dotted lines 35., It willbe evident that the folding section of the machine may be provided witha different size of folding blades to suit the particular shape and foldof an envelope blank.

While the invention has been discussed above only in relation to onespecific formv of the invention, persons skilled in the art will beaware that it may be refined and modified in various ways withoutdeparting from its scope. For instance, instead of beingcircumferential, the rubber band could be of shorter length and fixed onthe scorer 110 so that its passage on the conveying table of the machineis made coincident with the passage of an envelope passing thereby, insuch a case, the recess 118 on roller 116 would not be required. It istherefore wished to have it understood that the present invention is notlimited in interpretation except by the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an envelope folding machine where an envelope blank is processedthrough a series of successive operations including gumming one edgetransversely relative to the direction of travel of said blank in saidmachine, drying said gum to form a dried-gum flap, scoring said blank bymeans of a scoring roller and folding said blank to form an open-sideenvelope with a dried-gum flap, an attachment mounted on the machineforward of the scoring section thereof for additionally applying gumalong one side edge of the envelope blank to form an open-end envelopecomprising, in combination, a supporting frame extending over anenvelope conveying section of the machine disposed adjacent the scoringsection; gum application means supported by said frame and beingremovable relative to the scoring section, said means including a gumrecipient, a first roller partially submerged in said gum recipient, asecond roller adjacent said first roller, said first and second rollersrespectively affixed on parallel rotatable shafts having intermeshinggears journalled thereon; a third roller adjacent said second roller andaffixed on a rotatable shaft parallel to said shaft of said secondroller and cooperating therewith by means of a chain and sprocketarrangement to thereby rotate in'the same rotational direction; saidthird roller being juxtaposed to the scoring roller of the scoringsection of the machine whereby gum collected in the recipient istransferred via the first and second rollers to the scoring roller andby the third roller to a rubber band circumferentially affixed to saidscoring roller where it is applied along the side edge of the envelopeblank being conveyed below said scoring roller during the scoringoperation thereof, said side edge being subsequently folded in saidfolding section to form an open-end envelope with a dried-gum flap; saidattachment further including a lever assembly having its fulcrum pointpivotally secured to said supporting frame, said lever assemblyconsisting of members having one end secured to said gum applicationmeans and having a handle portion at the other end thereof whereby saidgum application means are manually pivotable so that said third rolleris removable relative to the scoring roller.

2. In an envelope folding machine where an envelope blank is processedthrough a series of successive operations including gumming one edgetransversely relative to the direction of travel of said blank in saidmachine, drying said gum to form a dried-gum flap, scoring said blank bymeans of a scoring roller and folding said blank to form an open-sideenvelope with a dried-gum flap, an attachment mounted on the machineforward of the scoring section thereof for additionally applying gumalong one side edge of the envelope blank to form an open-end envelopecomprising, in combination, a supporting frame extending over anenvelope conveying section of the machine disposed adjacent the scoringsection; gum application means supported by said frame and beingremovable relative to the scoring section, said means including a gumrecipient, a first roller partially submerged in said gum recipient, asecond roller adjacent said first roller, said first and second rollersrespectively affixed on parallel rotatable shafts having intermeshinggears journalled thereon; a third roller adjacent said second roller andaffixed on a rotatable shaft parallel to said shaft of said secondroller and cooperating therewith by means of a chain and sprocketarrangement to thereby rotate in the same rotational direction; saidthird roller being juxtaposed to the scoring roller of the scoringsection of the 'machine whereby gum collected in the recipient istransferred via the first and second rollers to the scoring roller andby the third roller to a rubber band circu'mferentially affixed to saidscoring roller where it is applied along the side edge of the envelopeblank being conveyed below said scoring roller during the scoringoperation thereof, said side edge being subsequently folded in saidfolding section to form an open-end envelope with a dried-gum flap; saidmachine including a second scoring roller disposed below said scoringroller and wherein said second scoring roller is provided with acircumferential recess in alignment with said rubber band.

3. In an envelope folding machine as defined in claim 1 wherein saidthird roller is axially slidable .on its shaft to thereby take variouspositions thereon in accordance with the dimensions of the envelopeblank being conveyed below the scoring roller.

1. In an envelope folding machine where an envelope blank is processedthrough a series of successive operations including gumming one edgetransversely relative to the direction of travel of said blank in saidmachine, drying said gum to form a driedgum flap, scoring said blank bymeans of a scoring roller and folding said blank to form an open-sideenvelope with a dried-gum flap, an attachment mounted on the machineforward of the scoring section thereof for additionally applying gumalong one side edge of the envelope blank to form an open-end envelopecomprising, in combination, a supporting frame extending over anenvelope conveying section of the machine disposed adjacent the scoringsection; gum application means supported by said frame and beingremovable relative to the scoring section, said means including a gumrecipient, a first roller partially submerged in said gum recipient, asecond roller adjacent said first roller, said first and second rollersrespectively affixed on parallel rotatable shafts having intermeshinggears journalLed thereon; a third roller adjacent said second roller andaffixed on a rotatable shaft parallel to said shaft of said secondroller and cooperating therewith by means of a chain and sprocketarrangement to thereby rotate in the same rotational direction; saidthird roller being juxtaposed to the scoring roller of the scoringsection of the machine whereby gum collected in the recipient istransferred via the first and second rollers to the scoring roller andby the third roller to a rubber band circumferentially affixed to saidscoring roller where it is applied along the side edge of the envelopeblank being conveyed below said scoring roller during the scoringoperation thereof, said side edge being subsequently folded in saidfolding section to form an open-end envelope with a dried-gum flap; saidattachment further including a lever assembly having its fulcrum pointpivotally secured to said supporting frame, said lever assemblyconsisting of members having one end secured to said gum applicationmeans and having a handle portion at the other end thereof whereby saidgum application means are manually pivotable so that said third rolleris removable relative to the scoring roller.
 2. In an envelope foldingmachine where an envelope blank is processed through a series ofsuccessive operations including gumming one edge transversely relativeto the direction of travel of said blank in said machine, drying saidgum to form a dried-gum flap, scoring said blank by means of a scoringroller and folding said blank to form an open-side envelope with adried-gum flap, an attachment mounted on the machine forward of thescoring section thereof for additionally applying gum along one sideedge of the envelope blank to form an open-end envelope comprising, incombination, a supporting frame extending over an envelope conveyingsection of the machine disposed adjacent the scoring section; gumapplication means supported by said frame and being removable relativeto the scoring section, said means including a gum recipient, a firstroller partially submerged in said gum recipient, a second rolleradjacent said first roller, said first and second rollers respectivelyaffixed on parallel rotatable shafts having intermeshing gearsjournalled thereon; a third roller adjacent said second roller andaffixed on a rotatable shaft parallel to said shaft of said secondroller and cooperating therewith by means of a chain and sprocketarrangement to thereby rotate in the same rotational direction; saidthird roller being juxtaposed to the scoring roller of the scoringsection of the machine whereby gum collected in the recipient istransferred via the first and second rollers to the scoring roller andby the third roller to a rubber band circumferentially affixed to saidscoring roller where it is applied along the side edge of the envelopeblank being conveyed below said scoring roller during the scoringoperation thereof, said side edge being subsequently folded in saidfolding section to form an open-end envelope with a dried-gum flap; saidmachine including a second scoring roller disposed below said scoringroller and wherein said second scoring roller is provided with acircumferential recess in alignment with said rubber band.
 3. In anenvelope folding machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said third rolleris axially slidable on its shaft to thereby take various positionsthereon in accordance with the dimensions of the envelope blank beingconveyed below the scoring roller.